Wednesday, March 20, 2024

We Must Be Educated

  


Can you remember when you went to school and there were some subjects you liked and some you did not? There may have been some classes you loved, and some you even hated. Let’s go back to the days before grade school and secondary schooling became nothing more than indoctrination institutions. I am not sure, but we may have to go back several decades ago. Government-run schooling used to be the place where parents would send their children to get educated. It was the place where children received education that would serve them when they became adults. It was apparent that without knowledge a person could not be productive or useful to society. Instead, a person without knowledge could be easily manipulated by people with nefarious intentions. Lack of knowledge produces a person who can be used by the darker elements of this world rather than having the power to make sound decisions.

Did you know that church is also a school? It is more than just a fellowship where Christian believers meet to worship God in song and have friendship, it is also a place where Christians are supposed to be educated in the word of God. The Scriptures are supposed to be taught in church. They are to be expounded upon to educate the Christian in the ways of God. To give them knowledge of who God is and what his desire is for the body of Christ. Although the Scripture is to be taught in its entirety over time in church settings, it should be taught repeatedly to refresh the believer's mind about what God has said so they can be thoroughly educated in the ways of God. The church must be educated in its history, beginning with how he created the universe and the earth. The church must know the sin of Adam and the consequences of sin for every man born after him. The Great Flood must be taught and especially who was responsible for it—it was the fallen angels. The life of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob should be taught because it is through them that the twelve tribes of Israel were created. Israel’s history must be taught, and how their prophets worked tirelessly rebuking them because of their disobedience in following fallen angels instead of Yahweh. The prophets preached God’s words to them to get them to repent. They warned Israel about what their future would be like if they did not obey the commands of the Lord. The church must know Israel’s past and future to be able to fully understand what God’s will is for the new creation, the body of Christ.

The Scripture reveals many doctrines. It contains some core teachings like: The doctrines of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit; the doctrines of man, salvation, and the Church, and much more. Another core doctrine of the Holy Scriptures is Eschatology (the study of last or end things), but being more specific is the doctrine of endtimes prophecy. Some congregations are diligent in teaching these doctrines regularly, some are not. Sadly, some pastors today teach things that they hear from demons, therefore their congregations are being taught doctrines of demons to lead them astray; to get them off track (1 Tim. 4:1). Some pastors are not teaching sound doctrine anymore, because they are afraid that they will lose their audience—therefore they teach mostly fables, messages that are false or unreal, they teach fiction and fantasy instead of solid truth (2 Tim. 4:3-4). The core teachings above are important to teach regularly, but certain doctrines must be focused on at specific times; in their right season. How do I know this? I will explain as I proceed.

When Jesus was teaching his disciples on the Mount of Olives, the same week he was crucified, he prophesied yet another time about the rapture of the church even before the church was born—he did this many times during his first appearance. I like to use Matthew’s record on this subject because he tightly compacts the following endtimes events together. But I will also give you the Scripture references from the other gospels that correspond with the endtimes teaching in the gospel of Matthew to enhance your study. Preceding Jesus’ teaching on the subject of the rapture, he taught briefly about what the final decades of the church age would be like that would lead up to the beginning of Israel’s seventieth week, the seven-year Tribulation Period. He taught that there would be an increase in wars and a lot of talk about war, he said that deception would increase, also that the races would clash like never before, and that world powers would be jostling with one another for world power (Matt. 24:4-8; Mk. 13:5-8; Lk. 21:8-11). I have written in other articles that the final decades of the church age began when Israel’s prophesied statehood was renewed (Isa. 66:8-9; Ez. 37:1-14; 11:16-17). Israel had not governed the Holy Land autonomously since they were exiled by King Nebuchadnezzar in 605 BC (the first deportation). But on May 14, 1948, their statehood was renewed.

After revealing concisely what the world would be like during the final decades of the church age, Jesus then taught his disciples briefly about what would happen during Israel’s seventieth week as prophesied in Daniel 9:27 (Matt. 24:9-31; Mk. 13:9-27; Lk. 17:22-24, 31-33; 21:12-28). You should be able to see that his prophecy pertains to the nation of Israel during these horrible seven years. I will move past Jesus’ prophecy about the importance of Israel’s renewed statehood for a moment because I will use it to complete Jesus’ teaching about the endtimes. But I will mention, that Jesus had added some more information about what the world would be like after Israel’s statehood was renewed which has an important connection to the rapture of the church—remember, the church had not even come into existence until after he was resurrected from the dead; he was not only God in the flesh but he was also a prophet. With this teaching, and throughout his ministry, he was laying down the groundwork for the foundation of the church, who were the first apostles (Paul, Peter, James, John, etc.) and the early prophets (Simeon Niger, Barnabas, Lucius, Barnabas, Manahen, Agabus, Silas, and Judas Barsabbas – I may have missed some). He of course is the chief cornerstone (Eph. 2:19-22). The added information I mentioned above, concerning the final decades of the church age, is that the world would also be like in the days of Noah (Gen. 6:1-5; Matt. 24:37-39; Lk. 17:26-27), and Lot (Gen. 13:12-13; 18:20-33; Ez. 16:49-50; Lk. 17:28-30). So, Jesus gives a warning to the church to be ready for the rapture of the body of Christ by using the events in the lives of these two men, because at the end of the church age, it will be similar (Matt. 24:36, 40-44; Mk. 13:32-37; Lk. 17:26-30, 34-35; 21:34-36). Because the day and hour of the rapture are kept hidden from the church they must be constantly watching for that day and be ready for the hour when it happens, because he said he would come at an hour that the church does not expect. When Jesus comes for the church, many will be caught off guard, they will be unprepared, because they are spiritually asleep. You can likely compare it to a surprise exam in secondary school—if they still do that. Most times students are not prepared for it and therefore the teacher fails them. But if students would constantly study a surprise exam would not catch them off guard. They would be prepared for an unexpected exam.

And then the Scriptures reveal, that Jesus both encourages and also warns the pastors and teachers of the church—the faithful and prudent servants (Matt. 24:45-51; Lk. 12:42-46). Above I said that I know that certain doctrines are to be focused on and taught at specific times. Both the encouragement and the warning to the pastors and teachers of the church in the passages above are where you will find that truth. The doctrine of Eschatology, the study of endtimes prophecy, is what Jesus was referring to when he gave both encouragement and warning to the pastors and teachers. As said: Jesus warns the church to be watching and ready for the day and hour that the rapture will occur. Within the context of this warning Jesus encourages and also warns the pastors and teachers of the church to focus on and teach endtimes prophecy—the allusion is to teach it regularly as the day of the rapture and the Tribulation Period approaches. Jesus said: “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time” (Matt. 24:45, ESV)? Luke wrote: “And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time” (Lk. 12:42, ESV)? This word means that the pastors and teachers are to be teaching the church in the right season, or the right period, the endtimes information that he has just taught. Jesus is emphatic that they must make this their focus with the consequences of not doing it, which is they will be put into the same place as the ὑποκριτής (ypokritís) hypocrite; according to Matthew (Matt. 24:48-51). And according to Luke, they will be put into the same place as the ἄπιστος (apistos) unfaithful (Lk. 12:45-46). The season, or the right time that the pastors and teachers are to focus on the study of endtimes prophecy coincides with the time when Israel’s statehood was renewed—1948. Jesus prophesied (Matt. 24:32-35; Mk. 13:28-31; Lk. 21:29-33), using parabolic or symbolic language (prophetic language), that the generation that witnessed Israel’s renewed statehood would also witness the final decades of the church age, the body of Christ raptured out of this world, the beginning and end of the seven-year Tribulation Period/Israel’s seventieth week, and the second coming of Jesus Christ to redeem the remnant Jews (Matt. 24:27-31; Mk. 13:24-27; Lk. 21:25-28). The church must be educated in Jesus’ teaching about the endtimes, specifically after Israel’s statehood was renewed up until the time the church is raptured which will occur before Israel’s seventieth week begins. A consolation for the Christian who is fearful of the Tribulation Period: The apostle Paul has assured the church of a pre-Tribulation rapture, as you can read in some of my other articles.[1] But that hope of a pre-Tribulation rapture does not nullify the command of Jesus for the church to be watching and ready for when it happens. It also does not dissolve the command of the Lord for the pastors and teachers to preach and teach endtimes prophecy. They must consistently educate the church in the study of endtimes prophecy in the days we now live.

Some think that the passages above (Matt. 24:36-44; Mk. 13:32-37; Lk. 17:26-30, 34-35; 21:34-36) refer to the second coming of Christ and not the rapture of the church. It may be because of just one incident where Luke inserted an event that will happen during the Tribulation Period within prophecies that reference the rapture of the church. This incident is a warning to Israel to run for safety once the Antichrist begins to attack them during their seventieth week (Lk. 17:31-33). I do not know why Luke inserted that warning where he did, because the other gospel writers inserted it within the context of the Tribulation and not within allusions to the rapture (Matt. 24:15-18; Mk. 13:14-16), but because he was inspired by the Holy Spirit to insert it there then there must be a reason. Maybe to make the endtimes church work at learning the Scriptures, or maybe to keep those that are willfully blind to continue in their blindness—the Scripture records that the Holy Spirit leads the believer into all truth.  He will inform the believer of events that will eventually come to pass (Jn. 16:13), but if the believer has an agenda, then the truth is something they do not readily want to receive. During Israel’s seventieth week, the seven-year Tribulation Period, the Antichrist will enter the 3rd temple and defile it (Dan. 9:24, 26b-27; Matt. 24:15; Mk. 13:14a), just like Antiochus IV Epiphanes did in his day—168 BC (Dan. 8:9-14; 11:29-31). The Antichrist will turn against the nation of Israel after having been the man that caused a peace treaty between them and the Palestinians—this event will begin the seventieth week of Israel which will last for 2520 days; seven Biblical/Prophetic years. He even lets them construct the 3rd temple (Rev. 11:1-2). The man of sin will try to destroy them during this time, but God warns them to run for safety to a place where he will hide them from this evil one until the Tribulation is completed (Matt. 24:16-18; Mk. 13:14b-16; Rev. 12:6, 13-16).

The other day a woman asked me what is the most important prophecy today. My mind began racing as many endtimes prophesies filled my mind. But the prophecy that came out of my mouth was the apostle John’s prediction about the one-world government mentioned in the writings of Daniel and the apostle John, which has to do with the Antichrist who will rule this government once the church is raptured (Dan. 2:33b, 41-43; 7:7-8, 19-25: Rev. 13:1-18; 17:1-18; 18:1-24; 19:11-21). If you want to read other articles that I have written about the global government and its ruler there is a link to some of them in the endnotes.[2] There are of course many other important endtimes prophesies that are pertinent for today, like the Scripture references that I have given you in this article. Most of the Old Testament prophets prophesied about the endtimes that are relevant to the nation of Israel.

Before Jesus made his first appearance Israel’s prophets recorded many prophesies about his arrival (Num. 24:8, 17; Mic. 5:2; Isa. 7:14-17; 9:6; 11:1; 12:2-3; 40:9; 53:3; 60:3, 7; Jer. 31:15; Hos. 11:1; Zech. 3:8-10; 6:12; 13:7). They recorded many prophesies about his earthly ministry (Ps. 2:7; 78:1-2; 89:26; Isa. 6:9-10; 9:1-2; 29:18; 35:5-6; 40:3; 42:1-4; 53:2; 61:1-2; Zech. 9:9; 13:7; Mal. 3:1; 4:5-6, and many more). They recorded many prophesies about his death and resurrection (Num. 9:12; Deut. 21:23; Ps. 22:1, 7-8, 14, 16-15, 18; 31:5; 38:11; 43:20; 69:21; 88:8; 109:4, 25; Isa. 50:6; 53:5-6; Mic. 5:1; Zech. 12:10, and many more). There are about 300 prophesies that pertained to Jesus’ first appearance that he fulfilled. So, there was no reason why Israel’s religious leaders should not have known each one of these recorded prophesies. If anyone should have known without a doubt that he was Israel’s Messiah they should have. Instead, the Pharisees and Sadducees tested Jesus. They asked him to show them a sign to prove he was who he said he was. He rebuked them saying they know how to predict the weather but are unable to discern the day and age they live in (Matt. 16:14). I get tired of saying it, but many of today’s religious leaders are like the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. There are a multitude of signs proving that the world is in the endtimes as the Holy Scriptures have predicted. From the global government to the ἀποστασία (apostasia) apostasy in the church (2 Thess. 2:3; 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 4:3-4). The church must be educated in endtimes prophecy regularly. It is up to the believer to make sure they are studying endtimes prophecy, but it is more important for the church leadership to set an example.  


Picture: Pixabay

Free for use under the Pixabay Content License 


Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)